Amanda Nunes will defend her bantamweight title against Holly Holm at UFC 239.
After knocking out featherweight queen Cris Cyborg to become the UFC’s first ever women’s two-division champion, Amanda Nunes will move back down to 135-pounds to defend her bantamweight title against Holly Holm.
The bout was originally expected to take place at UFC 237 in Brazil, but the premiere fight promotion confirmed on twitter yesterday that Nunes vs. Holm will feature as the co-headlining attraction for the UFC 239 pay-per-view on July 6.
The co-main is OFFICIAL for #UFC239!
Champ Champ @Amanda_Leoa defends her bantamweight strap against former champ @HollyHolm Jul. 6 in Las Vegas! pic.twitter.com/3b2IhsoYca
— UFC (@ufc) April 4, 2019
“The co-main is OFFICIAL for #UFC239! “Champ Champ @Amanda_Leoa defends her bantamweight strap against former champ @HollyHolm Jul. 6 in Las Vegas!” The UFC posted on Thursday.
Also on the card, a headlining light heavyweight championship tilt between reigning champ Jon Jones and top-three contender Thiago Santos.
Speaking to Submission Radio in a recent interview, Holly Holm’s longtime striking coach, Mike Winkeljohn, said he is confident ‘The Preacher’s Daughter’ will KO Nunes to reclaim the bantamweight title.
“So, I think Amanda is the greatest of all time, but Holly’s gonna take her and knock her off that crown and take it,” Winkeljohn said.
Holm last fought at UFC 225, where she beat former Invicta featherweight champ Megan Anderson via unanimous decision. Holm’s upcoming title clash against Nunes will mark her first fight at bantamweight in over two years.
UFC 239: Jones vs. Santos takes place later this year, July 6 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.